The Lady Wildcat volleyball team is off to a great start this season, with a 3-o win this past Tuesday night against Angelo State that puts them at 14-3 for the season. The team’s goal now is to turn that record into 16-3 with two Lone Star Conference home games this weekend.
The Wildcats started the season at 1-2 but went to a 12 game winning streak before falling to 12th-ranked Truman State University last weekend in a tough game, 2-3. Their winning streak included wins in all four of the Wildcats’ games at the St. Edward’s Invitational and a huge win last weekend against 11th-ranked Emporia State University in the Washburn Regional Crossover that bumped the Wildcats into a 21st national ranking.
“This has been an amazing season,” coach Kellen Mock said. “Our girls have continued the past few years’ high standards on defense this season, which of course contributes to our success. Offensively, however, we have really improved, and I think that has been the biggest difference in our performance.”
The Wildcats swept the LSC Players of the Week awards this past week after some outstanding tournament play last weekend. Senior Ijeoma Moronu received her second LSC Setter of the Week award with 24 kills and 148 assists in four games. Junior libero Kelsie Edwards and freshman middle Neely Borger both received their first LSC awards. Edwards had 64 digs in the four games and Borger had a .387 hitting percentage.
“It is so exciting to see the girls win LSC player of the week awards,” Mock said. “From a coaching standpoint, I am very proud of each of the players, and I am so proud of the team as a whole that we have had multiple players represented this year. That is a testament to how hard they push each other each and every day.”
The Wildcats hope to continue their undefeated home streak this weekend. They have won both home games so far, 3-0.
“The crowds at home games have been amazing,” freshman Whitney Stevens said. “I love the energy it naturally brings. The encouragement makes a bigger difference than they [the crowds] probably realize.”
The team is currently 4-0 in LSC conference play. Two more wins this weekend would put them at 6-0 and well on their way to an LSC Postseason Tournament birth and a possible LSC title.
The Wildcats will put their 21st ranking to the test this weekend, playing the University of Central Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 and Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.
